| U.S. gets tough Copa soccer draw
The United States accepted a guest entry into the Copa America, South America's biennial men's soccer championship, because it wanted more competitive matches between World Cups. It's about to get some. The Americans drew into Group C with Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay, and on paper, at least, will not be favored against any of them. Mexico, the 12-team tournament's other guest entry, is in Group B with defending champion Brazil, Ecuador and Chile. Host Venezuela got the obligatory cushy group with Bolivia, Uruguay and Peru. "Obviously we have been put in a quite competitive group," said interim U.S. coach Bob Bradley, who may or may not coach the June 26-July 15 tournament, depending on the wishes of U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "I certainly expect the environment to be tough." – MARK ZEIGLER
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Paraguay's Cerro and Brazil's Gremio play in soccer's Copa ...
Paraguay league soccer team Cerro Porteno and Brazilian rival Gremio will begin playing in Group Three of the Copa Libertadores, at 21:45 local time (00:45 GMT) on Thursday in Asuncion's La Olla (The Saucepan) Stadium. Argentina's Hector Baldassi will referee, with the help of compatriots Pablo Lunatti and Walther Valaz. It will be Cerro Porteno's 31st participation in Latin America's top competition for soccer clubs, but the team has never won the trophy. The Paraguay team includes Bolivia's Lorgio Alvarez and Brazil's Rodrigo Costa, brand-new transfers in defense. In the last two games the Paraguay team played its derby rival Olympia twice, beating it 4-0 the first time and tieing 0-0 the second time. Gremio, managed by Mano Menezes, comes from a winning run in Brazil, which sees it leading the local league with seven victories in a row, during which it scored 17 goals without conceding a single one.
Brazilian soccer fans sentenced to 14 years in prison in ...
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Two Palmeiras soccer fans were convicted of murder and each sentenced to 14 years in prison Thursday for the beating death of a 16-year-old Corinthians supporter nearly three years ago. A jury of seven convicted 31-year-old Edmilson Jose da Silva and 26-year-old Alessandro Almeida Borgers Pereira in the killing of Marcos Gabriel Cardoso Soares before a match in March 2004, court officials said in a statement. Defence lawyers were expected to appeal. Soares was headed to the match between Palmeiras and Corinthians when a confrontation between fans from both teams erupted at a subway station. Soares could not escape and was severely beaten. The teenager was taken to a hospital and released, but died a few hours later in his home because of head wounds.
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